{"id":1332,"date":"2013-09-24T10:44:53","date_gmt":"2013-09-24T14:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/?p=1332"},"modified":"2020-06-25T02:04:22","modified_gmt":"2020-06-25T02:04:22","slug":"local-system-managers-master-jugglers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/09\/24\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\/","title":{"rendered":"Local System Managers: Master Jugglers!"},"content":{"rendered":"

A typical day as a local early intervention system manager might involve \"Jugglingreviewing contracts with service provider agencies, attending meetings to build networks, supervising staff, conducting record reviews, reviewing\u00a0the budget for an upcoming report to the state office, squeezing in an intervention visit or two (if you also wear the hat of a service coordinator or provider), answering emails, talking with families who have questions or concerns…and on and on and on.<\/p>\n

We always say that the work of an early interventionist is so complex, but what about those important people who run the show and coordinate the local EI system?<\/p>\n

Master Jugglers<\/h2>\n

In Virginia, local early intervention programs are coordinated by local system managers (LSMs) who juggle many, many duties. In some systems, LSMs exercise primarily an administrative role and in others, provide a combination of administrative and direct service, meaning that\u00a0some LSMs also work directly with families as service coordinators, assessment team members, or service providers. There are some LSMs who juggle both system management and staff supervision and others who primarily focus on system management with other support staff who act as supervisors. Some LSMs also supervise other programs, wearing multiple administrative hats at once. How each system works depends on many factors and, while we have the state procedures<\/a> we all follow, how each system works looks a little different in each locality.<\/p>\n

No One Does YOUR Job<\/h2>\n

When you are an LSM, this\u00a0level of autonomy can be a real\u00a0challenge because there really is no other person in the state who does the exact same job that you do.\u00a0That’s why it’s so important for LSMs to support each other, share strategies for system coordination and management, and lean on each other when needed. The reality is that much rides on the LSM’s ability to monitor the system, know what’s happening with service delivery, keep up with billing and budgets, supervise and train staff, and make sure that early intervention services are provided so that they are meeting child and family outcomes and needs.<\/p>\n

LSM Strategies – My Top Four<\/h2>\n

I worked as a local system manager several years ago and when I think back, these are probably my top strategies that helped me juggle the duties of that role:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Don’t try to do it all by yourself<\/strong> – Surround yourself with others who can help rather than trying to be a one-man show. For example, if you have people in your fiscal department who are experts in\u00a0budget management, seek them out. You are still responsible for your system’s budget but they may have the expertise to help you learn.<\/p>\n

2. Organize yourself and your system<\/strong> – Find a system of monitoring and organization that works for you. Good monitoring also allows you to keep up with what’s going on so that when it comes time for state monitoring, you’ll know what to expect. Keep timelines organized and start early when you can (on activities like contract negotiations).<\/p>\n

3. Keep your staff in the loop<\/strong>\u00a0– Share local and state updates, results of local system monitoring, family survey data, etc. with your staff and providers in your system.\u00a0Share celebrations when things go well, even simple things like a compliment from a family. Problem-solve together when an issue arises. Conduct regular staff training to encourage shared learning. Find time to enjoy and get to know each other too.<\/p>\n

4. Go out and see families once in a while<\/strong> – I think this one is really important. It’s hard to squeeze this in if you aren’t a service provider, but get out of the office, breathe some fresh air, and remember why you juggle all of those balls. When I\u00a0felt weighed down by reports, there was no cure like watching a baby take his first steps.\u00a0There was also no better way to keep up with how services are implemented then by going out on visits, seeing providers and service coordinators in action, seeing how documentation is conducted, how IFSPs are written, etc.<\/p>\n

Let’s use this blog as a place to start capturing strategies for local system management. I hope to\u00a0post future blogs by\u00a0those currently in this role so stay tuned! But for now:<\/p>\n

What is your top strategy for managing an early intervention system? If you were talking with a new LSM, what would be your best piece of advice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Be sure to visit the VA Early Intervention Professional Development Center’s<\/a> topic page for LSMs: Local Systems Oversight & Management<\/a> for more resources and info!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A typical day as a local early intervention system manager might involve reviewing contracts with service provider agencies, attending meetings to build networks, supervising staff, conducting record reviews, reviewing\u00a0the budget for an upcoming report to the state office, squeezing in an intervention visit or two (if you also wear the hat of a service coordinator […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[139,13,14],"tags":[31,48,50,74,112],"class_list":["post-1332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all","category-local-ei-system-management","category-practical-strategies-for-intervention","tag-challenges","tag-early-childhood","tag-early-intervention","tag-local-system-management","tag-strategies","clearfix"],"yoast_head":"\nLocal System Managers: Master Jugglers! - Early Intervention Strategies for Success<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/09\/24\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dana Childress, PhD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/24\\\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/24\\\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dana Childress, PhD\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/912e5da6aba7fba3a723c90a678d1146\"},\"headline\":\"Local System Managers: Master Jugglers!\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-09-24T14:44:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-06-25T02:04:22+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/24\\\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":760,\"commentCount\":11,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/24\\\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/shutterstock_82832023-250x300.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"challenges\",\"early childhood\",\"early intervention\",\"local system management\",\"strategies\"],\"articleSection\":[\"All\",\"Local EI System Management\",\"Practical Strategies\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/24\\\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/24\\\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/09\\\/24\\\/local-system-managers-master-jugglers\\\/\",\"name\":\"Local System Managers: Master Jugglers! 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